Introducing The Ulysse Nardin Limited Edition Hourstriker Pin-Up

Ulysse Nardin is returning to the SIHH Watch Show in Geneva after being away at Baselworld for several years. They are bringing two new timepieces to restart their campaign back here – the Classico Manufacture with a blue grand feu enamel dial, and the limited-edition Hourstriker Pin-Up. I don’t have much information about the Classico Manufacture, so let’s take a look at the beautiful Hourstriker Pin-Up.

I don’t know some say this watch is a bit on the naughty side – not to me, though. All I see is Eve with a peacock instead of a snake. The colorful timepiece is part of brand’s chiming watches with jaquemarts – where tiny automatons on dial strike the hours on a bell. The burlesque figure on this dial is Eve, Hawaiian girl and a nightclub dancer rolled into one. She is dressed to the nines – in high-heels, a flower in her hair and wrapped in peacock feathers. As far as the dial is concerned, I have not seen a dial this clean and minimalistic even with all the artwork.

Automaton starts when the chimes are activated, which can happen on three occasions – on the hour, on the half-hour or when the wearer pushes the button to activate it. When activated, the peacock’s wings and tail move back to reveal dancer’s sultry and slender figure. Dial also features a second peacock between 2 and 5 o’clock. The dancer and peacock figures are created by watchmakers in-house miniature painters. They used delicate brushes to apply and mix acrylic colors directly on the dial. It took them over 50 hours on average to complete each dial.

The limited-edition Hourstriker Pin-Up is powered by Caliber UN-610 automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve. The 43mm case is available in rose gold and platinum versions and water resistant to 30 meters. The front and back are covered in non-reflective, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and workings of the movement are visible via the case back. Both versions come with a black leather strap with folding buckle. The Hourstriker Pin-Up is limited to 28 pieces of each version. Prices will be announced next month at SIHH.